see-think-do see-think-do in this chapter Observation Thinking like a rider

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1 6 see-think-do in this chapter See observation hazard perception Think assess the risk choose a solution Do speed control steering space margins communication Using see-think-do In the previous chapters, you began developing your smart riding skills by learning the basics of riding: being a thinking rider maintaining a safe motorcycle wearing the right gear understanding signs, signals and markings knowing the rules of the road. This chapter will bring together all these concepts and describe how to use them as part of see-think-do a riding and driving strategy that helps you to be a safe and competent rider. see scan for hazards. Pay attention to other road users and the areas where hazards could occur. think decide which hazards are the most dangerous. Think quickly about possible solutions. Decide on the safest solution. do react appropriately to keep yourself and others safe. see-think-do Whenever you ride, your eyes should be scanning the area around you to gather information. Good observation means knowing how and where to look. The next step is hazard perception knowing what to look for. Observation Good observation involves looking ahead, beside and behind. Thinking like a rider You re riding along a city street, keeping your eyes moving all the time. You check your mirrors the car behind is keeping its distance. There s an intersection ahead and the light is green. You scan the intersection. It looks clear. But the oncoming driver has his left turn signal on. Will he see you coming through or will he cut in front of you? You check your mirrors is there enough space behind you if you have to slow down quickly? 67

2 developing your smart riding skills Strategies: the observation cycle Always keep your eyes moving while you are riding: look at least 12 seconds ahead scan from one side of the road to the other, checking for potential hazards glance in your mirrors to keep track of what is happening behind you. Then start all over again. You should complete the whole cycle every five to eight seconds. crash fact In two-vehicle crashes, 79 per cent of the motorcycles involved were impacted in the front. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (1995) Observing ahead Make sure you know what s coming up on the road by scanning at least 12 seconds ahead. This means looking one to two blocks ahead in city riding and half a kilometre ahead on the highway. This will give you time to prepare for a potential hazard instead of being taken by surprise. As you look ahead, scan to the left and right to see what is happening along the sides of the road. If you see parked cars, be careful. A child may walk out from between them, or a door could swing open in front of you. It is easiest to see things that are in your central vision (directly in front of you). But it is important to pay attention to things outside your central vision. Peripheral vision allows you to see more than what is directly in front of you. 68

3 chapter 6 see-think-do smart riding tip Try sitting on your bike and finding the areas you can t see even when you use your mirrors. Observing behind Mirrors your mirrors let you know what is happening behind you. Adjust them for maximum vision, trying to ensure that your elbows or shoulders aren t blocking your rear view. Look in your mirrors: every few seconds, to check what s behind you before you slow down or stop, to make sure traffic behind will have room to stop for you whenever you plan to change road position or direction, to make sure that no other road user has moved up beside you. Blind spots even when your mirrors are properly adjusted, there are large areas behind and beside you that you can t see in your mirrors. These are called blind spots. If you see a vehicle behind you in your mirrors, keep track of it. If it moves up and disappears from your view, you will know that it is probably travelling in one of your blind spots. There are blind spots beside and behind your motorcycle. Some motorcycles have a blind spot directly behind that is large enough to hide a car. Shoulder checks whenever you plan to change your direction or road position, do a shoulder check to make sure the blind spot on that side is clear. For example, when you are about to turn right, quickly check over your right shoulder to make sure no one is in that space. It s easy to miss seeing a cyclist who has come up beside you. 69

4 developing your smart riding skills To shoulder check, look at least 45 degrees behind your shoulder in the direction you plan to move. Often you will need to shoulder check more than once to make sure the space you plan to move into is still clear. Strategies: making your move Use a mirror and shoulder check whenever you plan to: pull out from the side of the road pull over to the side of the road change lanes change lane position turn. crash fact Observing at intersections Look well ahead as you approach an intersection. Check for signs, signals and other clues about whether you ll need to stop. Forty per cent of crashes in B.C. happen at intersections. Traffic Collision Statistics: British Columbia (2007) Look well ahead as you approach an intersection. What could happen in this scene? Approaching scan the road you are crossing. Look left, centre and right, and glance to the left again. If an oncoming vehicle is turning left, take extra care because the driver may not see you. Also check crosswalks before you drive through them to make sure they are clear. 70

5 chapter 6 see-think-do Stopping and starting up again as you slow down to stop, check your mirrors for traffic behind you. Then make sure you have a clear view of the intersection. If your view is blocked after you have stopped, you may need to edge forward into the intersection to see clearly before you ride through. Turning shoulder check to make sure a cyclist or other road user hasn t come up beside you. Scan the intersection before you begin to move forward. Make sure that your eyes are looking in the direction you want to go once you begin your turn. Hazard perception Thinking like a rider You re riding along a residential road. The driver of the car in front of you seems uncertain of where he wants to go. He is slowing down and then speeding up. You decide to keep your distance. You glance in your left mirror, and see that the car behind you is getting a bit too close. While you are deciding what to do, you ride past a parked van that was blocking part of your vision, and you see a large patch of black oil on the roadway ahead Riding safely means looking out for hazards. A hazard is anything in the riding environment that could harm you or other road users. Hazard perception is the skill of identifying these hazards. To share the road safely, train yourself to look for other road users, objects and road surfaces that might cause problems. As you ride, your eyes should be moving, and you should be thinking ahead about where hazards could occur. The riding environment includes everything around you, including other road users, road conditions, weather conditions and the activities going on at the side of the road that might affect you. 71

6 developing your smart riding skills Space conflicts A space conflict happens when two road users try to move into the same space at the same time. To ride safely, you need to keep areas of space called space margins around your motorcycle. A car moving up too close behind could cause a problem if you have to stop suddenly. Some other space conflicts are: an oncoming vehicle turning left in front of you a pedestrian who intends to cross the road a cyclist moving up beside you when you are planning to turn right. Surprises Anything unpredictable is a hazard. You need to think well ahead and ask yourself what could possibly happen in the riding environment. A driver in front who is slowing down and speeding up could suddenly slam on the brakes when he finds the address he is looking for. Some other surprises are: a driver weaving back and forth who may be impaired a poorly loaded pickup truck something might fall an open area of road where a sudden gust of wind could come up. Vision blocks warning! Never pass when you are approaching the top of a hill. You can t see the hazards that might be on the other side. Having your view blocked is a hazard. A parked van can block your view of hazards ahead. If you are cresting a hill or going around a sharp curve, you often can t see what s ahead. Some other vision blocks are: trees or fences near an intersection a large truck in the next lane fog, rain or darkness. Be extra cautious when anything blocks your view. What could the rider miss in this scene? 72

7 chapter 6 see-think-do think about You are about to pull away from the side of the road into traffic. Where should you look? What should you look for? Poor road surfaces Car drivers on four wheels can drive over most road surfaces causing nothing worse than a rough ride. Riders on two wheels can easily lose traction on rough or slippery surfaces and fall. Always scan the road surface ahead to see what hazards may be there. Some poor road surfaces are: loose gravel wet leaves or other debris railway tracks wet or icy roads slippery road markings, oil and tar patches storm drains metal surfaces. smart riding tip Never assume that other road users see you. Even if they have seen you, they may not have an accurate sense of your speed and distance. see-think-do Whenever you ride, you will see hazards. To make good riding decisions, follow this two-step thinking process: 1. Assess the risk. 2. Choose the best solution. Assess the risk Thinking like a rider part 1 You re on a winding rural road and a light rain is falling. You re going up a long, steep hill that blocks your vision of what s up ahead. There is a car behind you, but it s keeping its distance. 73

8 developing your smart riding skills In this scene, there are two moderate risks. That light rain may make the road slippery, especially if a hazard appears and you need to stop quickly. The hill blocks your vision. Who knows what might be on the other side? If you are a smart rider, you ll slow down and be cautious. Move to the centre of your lane, just in case something is in your lane over the crest of the hill. Thinking like a rider part 2 As you reach the crest of the hill, this is what you see: a large truck is in the oncoming lane and, coming toward you in your lane, is a red sports car passing the truck. You look at the right shoulder of the road. It looks pretty soft and sandy not a good surface to ride on. What is the most dangerous risk here? When you find yourself in a situation with more than one hazard, what do you do? You need to figure out which hazard is the most dangerous. Which one requires action right away? Choose a solution Thinking like a rider part 3 Here you are with a red sports car coming toward you in your lane. What solutions can you think of? You could: slow down steer out of the way honk your horn or flash your brake light. 74

9 chapter 6 see-think-do The solutions all have to do with speed control, steering, space margins and communication. As you think of possible solutions, predict the possible outcomes of each one. Here is a slowed-down version of what your thinking process might be: think about You are passing an elementary school. A soccer ball rolls onto the road about half a block ahead. Assess the risk. What could occur in this situation? What is the major risk? Choose the best solution. speed control If I slow down, is there room for the car to pull in front of the truck before it reaches me? Can I slow down quickly on this slippery hill? Are my brakes and tires in good enough condition? Will I skid? steering If I steer onto the shoulder, can I stay in control or will my bike go down? space margins Do I have enough space in front to slow down safely? (Remember, the road may be slippery so you might not have much traction.) If I slow down suddenly, is there enough space for the car behind me to safely slow down? Is there enough space for me to move onto the shoulder? communication If I honk the horn, will the driver hear it? (Remember, your horn isn t as loud as a car horn is.) If I tap my brake to flash the brake light, will it help to warn the driver behind me that I m slowing down? Usually, the solution you choose will depend on where you have space. Is there enough space in front? To the side? Behind? Having enough space will allow you to manage the situation. Some riding decisions have to be made in seconds. This means you need to have lots of practice in assessing risk and choosing the best solution. Practise by thinking ahead about what you would do in emergency situations. see-think-do Once you ve assessed a risk and chosen a solution, you need to use your riding skills to perform the manoeuvre. The do step of see-think-do involves: speed control steering space margins communication. 75

10 developing your smart riding skills All of your riding manoeuvres will combine these four skills, whether you are riding in a straight line, turning at an intersection or steering to avoid a hazard. Speed control Thinking like a rider You re heading along a long, straight stretch of highway. It looks safe, so you increase your speed to the speed limit. As you scan the sides of the road you notice a sign: Construction Ahead. The sign tells you that there could be a rough road surface or people working. But when you look ahead, the road looks clear. What should you do? Good speed control means maintaining a steady speed that is appropriate for the riding conditions. crash fact Speeding is involved in 21 per cent of motorcycle crashes in B.C. Traffic Collision Statistics: British Columbia (2007) warning! It is illegal to coast downhill in neutral or with the clutch in. You need to be in gear to safely control your vehicle. Maintaining an appropriate speed Speeding is risky, but the safest speed isn t always the slowest speed. If you ride a lot slower than surrounding traffic, drivers behind you might get frustrated and try to pass you unsafely. Aim for a speed that is appropriate for the conditions you re riding in. The posted speed limit is the maximum for ideal conditions. Choose a slower speed if the conditions are not ideal for example, if the roads are slippery or visibility is limited, or if a warning sign tells you that there may be danger ahead. Unless a sign tells you otherwise, speed limits are: 50 km/h within cities and towns 80 km/h outside cities and towns. Maintaining a steady speed To keep a steady speed, practise using your gears, brakes and throttle. Using gears Most motorcycles have five or six gears. A good rider will be able to choose the gear that s appropriate for the speed of travel and the road conditions. You will learn to change gears using your left foot on the gear shift lever and your left hand on the clutch. Start out in first gear and gradually shift up to higher gears as you increase your speed. When you want to slow down or stop, you shift down to lower gears as you decrease speed. As you become more experienced, the sound of the engine will tell you when it is time to shift gears. 76

11 chapter 6 see-think-do smart riding tip Cover your brakes when you see a hazard ahead and you re not sure what might happen. Cover your rear brake by placing your toe over the brake pedal. Cover your front brake by putting your fingers over the brake lever. If traffic is following you, flash your brake light by gently tapping on the rear brake. Lower gears give you more power. If you re going up a hill or planning to pass, you may select a lower gear than when you are cruising on a flat road. As a general rule, select a gear that allows the engine to operate in the power band a range where you have the optimum amount of power to accelerate if necessary. Your motorcycle owner s manual will have information on the best gear to use for each range of speeds. Using the brakes Your motorcycle has two brakes the front hand-operated brake and the rear foot-operated brake. The front brake is the most powerful; it provides about 70 per cent of your stopping power. Always apply the brakes smoothly and increase pressure gradually. The best time to brake is when your bike is upright and moving in a straight line and you are looking ahead. Plan your braking so that you avoid braking in a curve. If you do need to brake in a curve, brake cautiously and smoothly to avoid losing traction. Strategies: how to brake Apply the brakes by gradually increasing pressure. This progressive braking will prevent your wheels from locking. Physics for riders When you re on the road, you need to pay attention to the laws of physics: Inertia this is the tendency for moving objects in this case, you and your motorcycle to continue moving forward in a straight line. When you brake, inertia tries to keep your motorcycle moving. When you go around a curve, inertia tries to keep you going in a straight line. The faster you ride into a curve, the greater the force of inertia, and the more effort the rider will have to make to keep from going off the road. Traction This is the grip your tires have on the road. Slippery or sandy road surfaces and worn or improperly inflated tires will reduce traction. If you do not have good riding skills, you can lose traction and fall. Abrupt accelerating, braking or turning (or any combination of these) may exceed available traction. High grip Low grip Different road surfaces affect your traction. Dry pavement Wet pavement Gravel Snow Ice 77

12 developing your smart riding skills Gravity this is the force that pulls everything toward earth. It s the reason why your motorcycle slows down when going up a hill and speeds up when coming down. When you re riding downhill, you will need a longer distance to stop. Steering Thinking like a rider You re riding along a country road, and can see the road ahead curving sharply to the right. It s a blind curve, so it s hard to assess just how sharply you will need to turn. Could there be traffic coming toward you when you go around the curve? Do you need to adjust your speed and steering to get a safe lean angle and maintain a safe lane position? What should you do? If you have driven a car, you may think that steering is simple just turn the steering wheel the way you want to go. But to steer a motorcycle you need to know how to lean into your turn and keep correctly balanced. You also need to understand the different types of motorcycle steering: low-speed steering and countersteering. Counterbalancing: In slow turns, lean the motorcycle only if necessary and remember to counterbalance keep the motorcycle balanced by keeping your body upright. Low-speed steering At speeds of up to 10 km/h, the motorcycle is unsteady, wanders easily and requires constant balancing and steering correction. To steer at slow speeds, turn the handlebars to the left when you want to turn left. Turn the handlebars to the right when you want to turn right. 78

13 chapter 6 see-think-do At medium or high riding speeds, the rider and the motorcycle should both lean into the curve at the same angle. Countersteering For most normal riding, your speed will be higher than 10 km/h. You ll find that when you get over 10 km/h, the bike will feel much steadier. At these speeds, the motorcycle must lean to make a turn. This lean counteracts the inertia that pushes the bike in a straight line. You make the motorcycle lean by countersteering. It may seem to be the opposite of what you should do. If you want to turn left, you gently push on the left handlebar. This makes your bike lean to the left, and that will take you into a left turn. To return to an upright position, push on the right handlebar. Countersteering in a nutshell: Push right lean right go right Push left lean left go left Handling curves When you go around a curve, there are two forces at work. Your motorcycle wants to continue in a straight line because of the force of inertia, and as your motorcycle leans into the turn, there is a side force on the tires. 79

14 developing your smart riding skills The faster you go, the harder you have to push on the handlebar to turn into the curve. And the harder you push, the more your motorcycle leans and the more traction you use up. When you have used up almost all your available traction, several things could happen: If you find you need to lean just a bit more to stay in the curve, you could run out of traction or ground clearance, skid and fall. If you brake abruptly, you could lose traction and skid. If you hit a wet or rough patch on the road, you could lose traction and fall. The lesson is: slow down to a safe speed before you enter a curve. A safe speed lets you lean at a moderate angle if you hit a patch of slippery road or need to tighten your curve, you will have reserve traction and be able to lean a little more. Space margins Thinking like a rider You re riding in a residential area, and the car in front of you is creeping along at a snail s pace. You re impatient you are going to be late for your meeting unless you can get past. You notice that there s a fairly wide space to the right of his car.? What should you do? Trying to share a lane would be a big mistake. If the driver in front suddenly decides to turn right, you re in his blind spot. Remember, in a crash with a car, you ll come out the loser. smart riding tip When you stop behind another vehicle at an intersection, leave about three metres between your mo tor cy cle and the vehicle ahead. This gives you room to escape if a vehicle is about to hit you from behind. Allow about six metres behind a large vehicle. This increases your view. Unlike a car, your motorcycle doesn t give you the protection of seatbelts, airbags or bumpers, so it s important to keep areas of space around you. These areas are called space margins. You need to keep space margins all around your motorcycle so you can react safely if something happens ahead, or if a hazard comes toward you from the side or from behind. Space in front Always leave a safe following distance between your motorcycle and the vehicle you are following. You need at least two seconds of space in front, because this is the distance it will take you to stop in good weather and good road conditions. Increase your following distance to at least three seconds on high-speed roads and four seconds in bad weather conditions, or on uneven or slippery roads. 80

15 chapter 6 see-think-do Allow at least three seconds following distance when you re riding behind a large vehicle that could block your vision. It s also a good idea to keep at least a three-second following distance if a vehicle is following close behind you, or when you are following another vehicle on a dirt or gravel road where dust or gravel may be in the air. On a highway, measure a three-second space by picking an object ahead. When the vehicle in front of you passes it, begin your count. Count one thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three If you reach the object as you say three, you are keeping a three-second following distance. Stopping distance Total stopping distance is the distance your motorcycle travels from the moment you notice a hazard until the moment your motorcycle stops. When you see a problem ahead, it takes you about threequarters of a second to see-think (perception distance) and another three-quarters of a second to do (reaction distance). Then your brakes start to work. Your braking distance depends mainly on your speed. The weight of your motorcycle, the traction of your tires on the road surface and the quality of your brakes can also affect your braking distance. 81

16 developing your smart riding skills The faster you go, the longer it takes to stop. When you double your speed, your braking distance increases by four times. At triple the speed you will need nine times the braking distance. Higher speeds greatly increase stopping distance and the severity of crashes. Remember, if someone is behind you, assume you can stop faster than them, and if someone is in front of you, assume they can stop faster than you. Make sure you have lots of space in front and behind. Stopping distance includes perception time, reaction time and braking distance. Always allow enough following distance and choose a speed that will let you stop safely. Space behind warning! If you are turning left from a highway into a driveway or a side road, watch your mirrors and make sure you have plenty of space behind. The drivers behind may not be prepared to slow down for you. 82 What do you do when someone is tailgating you? You can t control the space behind you in the same way that you can control the space in front. But it s a good idea to slow down gradually and increase the space in front to four seconds. This way, if you have to stop, you can stop more gradually, and there will be less chance of the person behind crashing into you.

17 chapter 6 see-think-do Strategies: dealing with tailgaters Here are some other ways to deal with tailgaters: Move into another lane. Turn right at the next intersection. Pull off the roadway and let the tailgater pass. Alert the tailgater by double-flashing your brake lights. The driver may realize that he or she is too close and drop back. Make sure that you maintain a dominant lane position (usually the left position) that makes you visible to the tailgater. This should help discourage them from moving closer. Sometimes, if you change your lane position and then move back to your dominant position, this will catch the tailgater s attention and they will then drop back. Space beside As you ride, keep at least one metre of clear space on either side of your motorcycle. Don t ride too close to curbs, sidewalks, medians or any object or road user. When passing pedestrians, cyclists or other vehicles, allow as much room as possible at least one metre and more if you are travelling fast. Increase your side space margins further when visibility or road conditions are poor. Try to leave yourself an escape route a space on at least one side of your motorcycle. Then if some thing happens in front, you can pull into another lane to avoid trouble. To keep an escape route beside you, you may have to slow down and let another vehicle pass, or move to an other lane that has more room on the sides. 83

18 developing your smart riding skills Lane position Placing your motorcycle in the correct part of the lane is a key factor in rider safety. You need to position yourself for maximum visibility and space. As the riding environment changes, your lane position may also need to change. Each lane offers you three choices of position the left lane position, the centre lane position and the right lane position. Keep watching the road and traffic conditions to decide which position is best for you. Here are some things to consider when choosing your lane position: space try to maintain maximum space between your motorcycle and other vehicles. Stay well away from any larger vehicles that might cause turbulence, and keep a safe distance from medians. Maintain a dominant lane position a position that will make it difficult for other vehicles to move into your lane beside you. Often the left lane position gives you the best distance from parked cars and debris on the side of the road and is the dominant lane position. But on a multi-lane road, some riders will choose the right lane position while riding in the left lane. visibility make sure you re clearly visible to the road users around you. Choose a position that lets you see well ahead. traction choose a lane and lane position with a road surface that gives good traction. Choose a path that is clear of debris and grease. Lanes often have a grease strip down the centre, especially on city roads or at intersections. Stay away from plastic or painted lines, manhole covers and other slippery surfaces. 84

19 chapter 6 see-think-do smart riding tip Think of the left lane position as the default position. Most riders choose this position unless there is some reason why another is better. But don t settle on just one lane position; keep scanning the road and deciding which is the safest. smart riding tip Riding alongside a vehicle in the lane next to you reduces your space margins. It also puts you in the other driver s blind spot. Avoid doing this. smart riding tip Did you know that in ideal conditions, it takes most mo tor cy cles stopped at an intersection: two seconds per lane to go straight across five seconds to turn right and get your speed up to 50 km/h seven seconds to turn left and get your speed up to 50 km/h (allow extra if you have several lanes to cross) Remember to add an extra two seconds for safety. Strategies: choosing a safe lane position Hills before the crest of a hill, move to the centre or right lane position. You never know what might be coming over the hill and moving into your space. Curves you don t know what might be coming around a curve, so choose a position that gives you the best view through the curve ahead. Trucks and other large vehicles avoid turbulence. When you see a large vehicle approaching, move to the right position and wait for about three seconds after the vehicle has passed before returning to your usual lane position. Weather in heavy gusts, riding in the centre of the lane may give you the most manoeuvring space to recover from gusts, but there may be grease or oil in the centre position. Here are some dangerous lane positions to avoid: lane splitting lane splitting is the practice of riding between lanes of traffic. In B.C., lane splitting is illegal. It is also dangerous. You never know when stopped or slowmoving traffic might suddenly start up or someone may change lanes or open a door. When you split lanes, you have no space margin to protect you. riding on the shoulder never ride on the shoulder of the road unless you are pulling over to stop. It is illegal and also unsafe shoulders are often littered with debris. riding side by side don t ride in the same lane next to another motorcycle it reduces your space margin. To learn how to ride safely in a group, turn to chapter 7, sharing the road. Choosing a safe gap Thinking like a rider You re waiting at a two-way stop. The traffic seems endless. Just when you think it s safe to cross the intersection, a van approaching in the opposite direction comes into view. You think you probably have enough time to get across before the van reaches the intersection, but you re not quite sure. What should you do? 85

20 developing your smart riding skills A gap in traffic is the space you need to get across an intersection, make a turn, change lanes, pass, merge or move into traffic. Deciding whether a gap is big enough to be safe isn t always easy. You need to consider several things: the speed of the traffic the time it will take you to complete your manoeuvre the time it will take your vehicle to accelerate to the speed of the traffic flow. Communication Thinking like a rider You re approaching a shopping mall, and you can see a car waiting at the mall exit stop sign. The driver is signalling a left turn. You make eye contact with the driver, and she seems to see you. You think that she ll wait until you are past before she pulls out to turn left, but you re not quite sure. What should you do? This situation shows one of the primary hazards of riding. You can try your best to communicate with other road users, but you can never count on their response. Protect yourself by communicating clearly. Make sure you understand the ways that other road users communicate what they intend to do, but never assume that others have seen you and will respond appropriately. Visibility It takes two to communicate. Signals are not effective unless other road users notice them. Make yourself visible. Wear bright and reflective clothing and keep your headlight on during the day. Ride in the lane position where you ll be most visible. Eye contact You can often communicate with other road users just by using your eyes. Always try to make eye contact with drivers who may be about to pull into your path. This is one way of helping to make sure that those drivers see you. But remember, even if they see you, drivers often don t realize how fast you are approaching. Don t rely on the judgment of other road users. Use your eyes to make contact with other vulnerable road users. When you stop for a pedestrian or a cyclist, make eye contact so that they know you ve seen them and it s safe for them to cross. 86

21 chapter 6 see-think-do smart riding tip Motorcycle turn signals are different from car turn signals because they don t always cancel automatically. Make sure you re-apply the signal if it cancels before you make your turn. And make sure you cancel it immediately after your manoeuvre. Turn signals Your primary communication tools are your turn signals. Always signal to let people know you are planning to turn, change lanes, pull out or pull over. Here are some tips for using your turn signal: be timely signal well ahead to give other road users plenty of warning. be clear don t put on your turn signal too soon it may confuse other road users. If you plan to turn right at the next intersection and there are a number of driveways and lanes before you reach it, wait until you re close enough to the intersection that other people can see exactly where you plan to turn. be visible get in the habit of always using your turn signals even when your intention seems obvious (for example, when you are in a turning lane). Your turn signal will make you more visible to other road users. In some situations, you may choose to use a hand signal as well as turn signal lights to make yourself more visible to drivers. This is the left turn signal. This is the right turn signal. Motorcyclists must use their left arm to signal a right turn. Cyclists may use either arm to signal a right turn. mean what you say make sure that you cancel your signal after your manoeuvre, or turn your signal on again if necessary. Don t give the wrong message to other road users. This signal shows that you intend to stop. Brake light The brake light goes on when you apply either the front brake or the rear brake. Your brake light tells the traffic behind you that you are slowing down. Help drivers behind notice you by flashing your brake light before you slow down. If you gently tap either your front brake lever or your rear brake pedal, you can activate the brake light without applying the brake. It s especially important to do this before: 87

22 developing your smart riding skills you slow down suddenly you slow down in a place where other road users wouldn t be expecting it. Horn Be ready to use your horn to quickly get someone s attention. Here are some situations where it s a good idea to use your horn: You are approaching an intersection at the same time as another vehicle. You haven t managed to make eye contact. You are passing someone who doesn t see you and begins to move into your lane. A driver in a parked car looks ready to pull out in front of you. A car starts to back out of a driveway and into your path. A pedestrian is about to step out in front of you and you can t stop in time. Remember that your motorcycle s horn isn t as loud as a car horn. Don t rely on it be prepared to brake or steer as well as honking your horn. think about A parked car starts to pull out just in front of you. How can you use your do skills communication, speed control, steering and space margins to avoid a crash? Vehicle clues The way you position your motorcycle in the lane can tell other road users what you intend to do. Make your intentions clear well ahead of performing a manoeuvre. For example, if you want to make a left turn, position yourself in the left portion of the left lane in good time so that drivers behind you can see you and know what you are doing. You can tell a lot about what other vehicles are going to do by watching vehicle clues. If a vehicle moves over in the lane, that driver may be planning to change lanes or turn. When you see a parked vehicle with its wheels turned out, the driver may be planning to pull into traffic. Pay attention to these clues. Using see-think-do Riders in hazardous situations sometimes forget how to countersteer, and steer into the hazard instead of away from it. The way to avoid this is to give yourself plenty of time and space to react and practise the see-think-do strategy. Practise your skills until they are second nature, ride at a safe speed, look well ahead and stay alert. That way you should be able to see problems coming up, think of possible solutions and take actions that will keep you safe. 88